Job
Chapter 23
Job replies again, and this time he speaks less to his friends than about God. He wishes he could find God's court and lay out his case there, sure that he would be heard and cleared. But God cannot be found in any direction, and God does what he decides, so Job is left afraid in the dark.
Plain reading written for preteens. Clear and complete, at about a fifth grade reading level.
Then Job answered and said,
1Then Job answered:
2Even to day is my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning.
2"Even today my complaint is bitter. The hand that strikes me is heavier than all my groaning.
"My stroke" means the blow that has fallen on Job, not something he does. He is saying the pain hitting him is worse than the sound of his complaining.
3Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat!
3If only I knew where to find God! I would go straight to the place where he sits.
4I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.
4I would lay out my case in front of him. I would fill my mouth with arguments.
5I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me.
5I would hear the words he answered me with, and I would understand what he said to me.
6Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me.
6Would he use his great power to argue me down? No. He would listen, and give me strength.
7There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge.
7There an honest man could reason with him. And I would be set free forever from my judge.
8Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him:
8Look, I go forward, but he is not there. I go backward, but I cannot find him.
9On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him:
9When he is at work on the left, I cannot see him. He turns to the right, and he is hidden from me.
In this way of speaking, "left hand" and "right hand" mean north and south. Job is saying he has looked in every direction and still cannot find God.
10But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
10But he knows the road I have walked. When he has tested me, I will come out like gold.
11My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.
11My feet have stayed in his tracks. I have kept to his way and have not turned aside.
12Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.
12I have not turned away from the commands he spoke. I valued his words more than my daily food.
13But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.
13But he does not change his mind, and no one can turn him. He does whatever he wants to do.
14For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him.
14He is carrying out what he decided for me, and he has many more such plans in store.
15Therefore am I troubled at his presence: when I consider, I am afraid of him.
15So I am shaken when I stand before him. When I think about it, I am afraid of him.
16For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me:
16God has made my heart weak. The Almighty has filled me with fear.
17Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither hath he covered the darkness from my face.
17For I was not taken away before this darkness came, and he has not hidden the thick darkness from my face."
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